American ANGUS Association SELECTION TOOLS
EXPECTED PROGENY DIFFERENCE (EPD): is the prediction of how future progeny of each animal are expected to perform relative to the progeny of other animals listed in the database. EPDs are expressed in units of mea - sure for the trait, plus or minus. Interim EPDs may appear on young animals when their performance has yet to be incorporated into the American Angus Association National Cattle Evaluation (NCE) procedures. This EPD will be preceded by an “I” and may or may not include the animal’s own performance record for a particular trait, de - pending on its availability, appropriate contemporary grouping, or data edits needed for NCE.
Breed Average EPD: CED: +6, BW: +1.2, WW: +66, YW: +117, Milk: +26, Marb: +0.78, RE: +.65, $W: +63, $M: +62
Birth Weight EPD (BW) : expressed in pounds, is a predictor of a sire’s ability to transmit birth weight to his progeny compared to that of other sires. Weaning Weight EPD (WW) : expressed in pounds, is a predictor of a sire’s ability to transmit weaning growth to his progeny compared to that of other sires. Yearling Weight EPD (YW) : expressed in pounds, is a predictor of a sire’s ability to transmit yearling growth to his progeny compared to that of other sires. Calving Ease Direct (CED) : expressed as a difference in percentage of unassisted births, with a higher value indicating greater calving ease in first-calf heifers. It predicts the average difference in ease with which a sire’s calves will be born when he is bred to first-calf heifers. Maternal Milk EPD (Milk) : is a predictor of a sire’s genetic merit for milk and mothering ability as expressed in his daughters compared to daughters of other sires. In other words, it is that part of a calf’s weaning weight attributed to milk and mothering ability. Marbling EPD (Marb) : expressed as a fraction of the difference in USDA marbling score of a sires progeny com - pared to progeny of other sires. Ribeye Area EPD (RE) : expressed in square inches, is a predictor of the difference in ribeye area of a sires progeny compared to progeny of other sires. Weaned Calf Value ($W) : An index value expressed in dollars per head, is the expected average difference in fu - ture progeny performance for preweaning merit. $W includes both revenue and cost adjustment associated with differences in birth weight, weaning direct growth, maternal milk and mature cow size. Maternal Weaned Calf Value ($M): an index, expressed in dollars per head, predicts profitability differences from conception to weaning with the underlying breeding objective assuming that individuals retain their own re- placement females within herd and sell the rest of the cull female and all male progeny as feeder calves.
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35th Annual Production Sale
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